What is Alien Creatures?
Alien Creatures is a film about learning how to cope. Or, at least trying to. Four roommates have a month before they are evicted from their house in Toronto, and find themselves grasping at straws in order to get their lives in order. It explores sexuality, identity and coming of age, boldly questioning what happens when relationships just don't work out.
We've already shot about one third of the film, and now need your help to finish it!
Why this story?
Heavily inspired by their own lives, director Kelly Paoli and producer Aaron Hale wanted to tell a realistic and honest coming of age
story that didn't put any labels on sexuality or identity, and wasn't afraid of
being sexually ambiguous or giving an honest representation of bisexuality. Exploring failing relationships, broken hearts and the straws we grasp onto to keep them together was a primary focus. Alien Creatures ventures into the fear, insecurities and instabilities that come with being uncertain, and the truth behind what it means to discover that the universe does not revolve around you.
The characters of Cass, Evan, Lauren and Nathan face their own personal demons, and must find a way to cope with the harsh truths of reality. What happens if you fail at being successful? What do you do when your relationships just don't work out the way you always thought they would? And how do you cope with it all?
So who are we again?
Allow us to introduce ourselves!
Kelly Paoli - Director, Writer, Actor
Kelly is a recent grad of the first class of Film Screenwriting BFAs at York University. With two web series, several commercials and a plethora of screenplays under her belt, Kelly has worked as a producer, writer, story editor and director intensively over the past four years. Alien Creatures is her feature debut. She's also a part time sappy poet, part time mobile story book application writer.
Kelly also plays Cass, the 'too cool for school' lone wolf who returns to the gang at the start of the film, and has an interesting history with not only her long-term ex, Evan, but her best friend Lauren as well.
www.kellypaoli.com
Tanner Zurkoski - Producer
Tanner is a transplanted West Coast expat in Toronto. Alien Creatures is the first feature length film project he has tried to produce. Though he has produced a number of web series and web commercials since forming the Applebox Film Company with Kelly Paoli. But He did stuff before that too. He lived in a car for a month. For promotional reasons.
That's cool right?
Tanner is also terrible at Trivial pursuit 90's edition.
Aaron Hale - Producer & Story Editor
Aaron Hale is a Social Sciences student at UofT. Having only had experience in front of the camera, "Alien Creatures" is the first project that Aaron has taken on as a producer. Aaron is responsible for co-creating the film's story, story editing, and working with the actors,
As an actor, Aaron has appeard in the TIFF nominated indie film Picture Day (starring Tatiany Maslany) and a number of short films and television shows including Syfy's Warehouse 13, The CW's Nikita, CBC's Cracked, and DarkNet for the Super Channel. In his spare time, Aaron enjoys long distance running, dance, and is a hardcore foodie.
Thaddeus Eng - Cinematographer
Thaddeus Eng is a recent graduate of the Screenwriting BFA program at York University. Over the past four years, Thaddeus has shot multiple short films, including the CineSiege nominated Fifty Bucks and the TIFF Film Circuit London nominated Free Parking. With a keen eye for visual storytelling and an attention to detail (that often ends up in many a round-about 'can you just do this a few inches that way- oh, nevermind I'll just-' conversations on set). This is Thaddeus' debut feature film as a cinematographer. He also has washboard abs, although he'll never let you actually see them.
Rebecca Lugo - Editor
Born and raised in Caracas, Venezuela, Rebecca is a
recent Film Production graduate from YorkU - specialized in directing
experimental films and editing. She's worked on tons of genres including
alternative, documentary and fiction. With over 4 years of editing
experience, she's known for her organizational skills and her very own
'choppity-chop-chop' technique.
Our team also consists of the amazing Gina Simone (1st AD extraordinaire) , Justine Nguyen (artfully phenomenal Production Designer), Mark Sirju (master Production Manager), Francesca Vicari (mind-blowing Makeup Artist), Holden Mohring (Post Production Supervisor wizard) and last but not least, Christian Harrison (curly haired Production Coordinator wonderboy).
Not to forget the amazing daily crew members who have been working as ACs, gaffers, grips, location sound, PAs and set dressers!
Let's not forget the cast!
Ryan Fisher - Evan
Ryan Fisher is a Canadian-born, American actor based out of Toronto and LA. A graduate of the joint-acting program between the University of Toronto and Sheridan College, he has been in numerous stage productions as well as feature films. You can see him next in Amber Lens production "Seek", currently running the LGBTQ Film Festival circuit in North America.
IMDb: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm4252139/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1
w: https://ryanfisher.workbooklive.com
Alex Spyropoulos - Lauren
Alex Spyropoulos is currently finishing up her fourth and final year at the University of Toronto and Sheridan college joint theatre and drama studies program. She just finished a very successful production of The Crucible and heading into productions of Neck-Breaking Car-Hop and a Feydeau farce called A Stitch in Time. Alex is very excited to be a part of Alien Creatures!
Andrew Meikle - Nathan
Andrew has been modelling and acting since he was nine years old. He's done modeling for ROOTS Canada, TV Commercials for Subway Sandwiches, Dr Braniac Toys, Got Milk, and Boston Clothing. He also appeared in an episode of the television show "Twice In A Lifetime". In 2011, Andrew decided to start his own Film Production company entitled "Meikle Productions" and since then he has written, produced, and directed two feature films "Consequences" and "The One That Got Away". He is currently working on two other projects; a short film "CHLOE" and his first feature film drama "The One Night Stand".
How You Can Help!
Making a feature film isn't an easy feat, and you can't run a production on passion alone. Here's an idea of what your kind donations will be going towards:
- Equipment rentals! In order to tell our story better, renting equipment like lights and camera rigs is a must.
- Art Department! Being able to decorate the set and have the world of the characters come alive is crucial! Without the proper funds, our set dec will be lacking.
- Craft! No one likes being hangry. A happy cast and crew is a well fed one!
- Insurance! The city of Toronto won't have it any other way, and we REALLY want to shoot on Centre Island.
- Locations!
- Transportation! Because TTC really stands for 'Take The Car', and can you imagine how difficult it must be moving equipment on the Dufferin bus is.
But I'm a starving artist, too!
Just because you can't contribute doesn't mean you can't help! Getting the word out there about our campaign means the world to us. So please share, retweet and tell all of your friends about our story!
Want to see more?
Here's some beautiful stills taken by Brendan Adam-Zwelling from what we've shot so far. Take a look!